The Department of Agriculture this week announced $80 million in awards under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. The awards support processing capacity expansion, on-farm improvements, and technical assistance services to producers. The funds are being awarded non-competitively to the four current Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives at the California State University Fresno, the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. Additionally, USDA announced $22.9 million through a Request for Applications for funding provided by fiscal year 2022 appropriations to support the same Initiatives. The awards were made possible by supplemental funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Jenny Lester Moffitt, USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, says, "The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives have proven to be an invaluable resource for dairy farmers and businesses because of their ability to provide targeted resources and funding through sub-awards at the local and regional level, maximizing impact."
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